On Sunday afternoon, the Knights put an end to their six-game losing streak at home by defeating the Raiders 24-14 at McDonald Jones Stadium. Despite trailing 14-8 at half-time, Adam O’Brien’s team managed to score three tries in six minutes and outplay the error-prone Raiders.
The Knights secured the victory when Tyson Frizell scored a try just moments after the Raiders’ five-eighth, Jack Wighton, was sin-binned for his second reported offense. The Raiders had already lost their halfback prior to the match, leaving them without direction.
Jackson Hastings played exceptionally well in his first game at Newcastle, controlling the game at halfback, while newcomer Greg Marzhew scored two tries in his debut in Newcastle colors.
Although the Raiders kicked off proceedings with a try from Hudson Young, three errors in five minutes allowed Newcastle to take control of the game. Marzhew scored his first try, and six minutes later, Bradman Best carried Matt Timoko over the line to score another try. Wighton scored an individual try to give the Raiders a 12-8 lead at half-time, and Matt Frawley kicked a field goal on the stroke of half-time to give the Raiders an extra two points.
In the second half, the Knights blew the game open with tries from Marzhew and veteran center Dane Gagai. Wighton’s sin-binning for high contact allowed Newcastle to capitalize on the extra man, and Frizell scored from close range to extend the Knights’ lead to 24-12.
With Hastings controlling the game at halfback and Lachie Miller denying the Raiders any late opportunities from fullback, the Knights held on for their first win in front of their home crowd since Round 16 last season.
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